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Primark's store head leaves

Primark’s store development director Peter Franks has decided to leave the company. His responsibilities will be assumed by Mark Woods, who has been promoted to brand and store development director.

The new Primark at Westfield London Franks joined Primark in 2008 from TK Maxx, where he was vice president of store development. As head of Primark’s expansion strategy, Franks was responsible for the Irish clothing retailer’s dramatic growth over the last decade, paving the way for its consolidation as one of the UK’s biggest clothing retailers.

During the last ten years, Franks opened flagship Primark stores in key cities and locations including Tottenham Court Road in London, Downtown Crossing in Boston and Gran Via in Madrid, reported Retail Week.

The popular clothing chain entered the US market in 2015 and currently operates in eleven countries including the UK, Republic of Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, France Italy and US.

In its latest trading update, Primark owner Associated British Foods plc said the chain is currently trading from 358 stores. It opened seven new stores in the 40 weeks to 23 June in Munich, Metz, Antwerp, Valencia, Tilburg in the Netherlands and Burnley in the UK.

One of its latest openings was a 70,000 sq ft flagship store in Westfield London. Sitting within the shopping centre’s new expansion, which has made Westfield London the largest mall in Europe, the store features immersive tech elements, free Wi-Fi and five customer “recharge” seating areas.

Archives Primark

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